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This Just In

Our endorsements

Statewide referenda

NO ON 1
We might just say “Duh” and leave it at that, but it’s not enough. It is, in fact, kind of sad that we actually need to explain our support of protecting equal rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Civil marriage is a legal institution whose rights and responsibilities should be extended by the government to everyone. Religious marriage is a spiritual and clerical tradition whose undertaking should be administered by each congregation and faith according to its own beliefs. The law passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor allows for both of those things, and should be upheld. Anything less is separate and necessarily unequal. We should not repeal equality.

NO ON 2
While this appears to reward people for buying newer and more-efficient cars, it will actually mean that people who can afford to buy new and hybrid cars won’t have to pay their fair share of taxes. We applaud the idea of supporting improved efficiency in our state’s vehicles, but this method of doing so will deprive cities and towns of money, requiring them to raise property taxes to make up the difference.

NO ON 3
To teach our children to succeed, Maine’s schools need more and better teachers and equipment, not more administrators. School-district consolidation, while admittedly difficult for some communities, is a way to reduce administrative and overhead costs without affecting teachers or students.

NO ON 4
State and local spending should be limited to what makes sense, and should be restrained by practicality. This proposal, more commonly known as “TABOR II,” would limit government spending according to outside factors which have little relation to local realities. And anytime the people’s elected representatives wanted to consider spending a little more, all taxpayers would have to foot the bill to have an election about it. If you don’t like government spending patterns, we already have elections where you can express your views. We don’t need more elections.

YES ON 5
Marijuana is an effective drug for some patients, and people whose doctors want them to be on marijuana should not be treated like criminals for it. This will establish a system by which legitimate patients can acquire and possess their medication, without being hassled by police or hauled into court.

YES ON 6
While borrowing more money during a recession may seem counter-intuitive, it actually makes good sense to do it now. Not only do we need the additional spending these bonds will allow to support jobs and improve our state’s transportation network, but the cost of borrowing money is low these days.

NO ON 7
Municipal clerks do sometimes struggle with their workload during the couple of weeks a year when citizen petitions are turned in, but amending the state’s constitution to accommodate their needs goes a bit overboard.

Portland local races